Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, today held a Ghaf tree planting ceremony at its Khalifa City Headquarters to celebrate the national tree as the official symbol of the Year of Tolerance.

Announced by His Highness
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the
UAE and Ruler of Dubai as the logo for the year-long initiative, he described
it as a source of life and a symbol of stability in the desert.

Tony Douglas, Group Chief
Executive Officer Etihad Airways said: “The Ghaf is resilient and can survive
extreme drought. It's a celebration of life in its purest form, which in the
end is what underpins the Year of Tolerance.

We planted the Ghaf tree to
continuously remind us of our strength and unity as an inclusive,
multicultural, and multi-faith organisation.”

Throughout
2019, Etihad Airways will honour the values it represents through various
initiatives across the globe. Last week, the airline flew His Holiness Pope
Francis from Abu Dhabi to Rome following the first Papal visit to the Gulf
region, and next month, Etihad is the official airline sponsor of the Special
Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi 2019.